I have a cake for the 9th of June (one week away). The bride came in and ordered this cake back in November. After seeing my cakes at a wedding show and tasting, she put half down on the cake. The contract stipulated that she pay the rest in full one month before the wedding.
After many e-mails and phone calls, she finally got back to me this morning. She wants to come in tommorrow and give me the final payment and go over last minute details. Thats fine. However she also asked if I can make a small replica of the cake so she can see what it is going to look like. I assured her that I will make it as close to the picture that she provided as possible. She was disappointed. I hate disappointing my brides, but at this late date I felt it was to much. I hate going into a wedding with the bride already disappointed.
I've never had a request like this. Should I have done the replica? I offered to sketch it out for her. What do you think?
I'm learning about cakes here on CC, so I'm not very experienced right now, but I've never read of anyone making a replica before the wedding! I think I've read of people making a mini cake replica for their anniversary though.
My cake lady made a wonderful color sketch and mailed it to me after we had our consultation. It was perfect and I didn't need a 3D version to know it would be great.
Gah!! She's lucky you're still making the cake... screw the replica. She should have thought of that four months ago. Then it would have been appropriate. One week before the wedding you are not going to make a smaller version of her cake. Not even if she paid for it. You did the right thing!
This is crazy! She has not paid you on time. And at the last minute she comes up with this request??? She should be more concerned with you spending the time on her real cake instead of some replica! I could understand this if she asked months ago - but she's already seen your work anyways.
That takes nerve!
Nope, no replica. Especially in light of the fact that she didn't get final payment to you on time AND wouldn't respond to your calls/e-mails. Maybe, if you're feeling VERY generous, you could make her a little (4" or 5") bitty cake that would replicate the top tier, but I would be extremely hesitant to even do that.
HTH,
Odessa
Um...NO! She has already broken contract with you by not having payment in full three weeks ago. To be completely honest, I don't think you should feel bad at all about not doing a replica. I don't think that I would even be doing her cake since payment hasn't been received at this late date. Hope everything turns out well for you!
I think that's another example of how people just think we all whip these out of our butt a day before the wedding - SO CLUELESS...
Melissa
Maybe it's that she wants to sample the cake one more time before fully commiting... maybe she thinks from the samples she tasted before that some how the MINI REPLICA would taste different then the samples lol... I would just explain to her that she has tasted your cakes and was pleased yes? and that she has liked what she's seen yes? then there shouldn't be any problem at all. Assure her that she'll be delighted with what the outcome is but at this late in the show you just can't offer her any type of small mini replica of the wedding cake... now if she wants to pay extra for it I'd concider it but I wouldn't do it free of charge especially at this late in the game 
Gah!! She's lucky you're still making the cake... screw the replica. She should have thought of that four months ago. Then it would have been appropriate. One week before the wedding you are not going to make a smaller version of her cake. Not even if she paid for it. You did the right thing!
YOU SAID IT.....! I think that was SO rude of her to even ask!
What is the point of her even asking for a replica now? It's one week before her wedding. Too late for her to change her mind on the design and too late too find someone else to make her cake if she is not happy with the replica. So what is her angle here???
What is the point of her even asking for a replica now? It's one week before her wedding. Too late for her to change her mind on the design and too late too find someone else to make her cake if she is not happy with the replica. So what is her angle here???
I second that! You don't think she's trying to get a free cake for the rehearsal dinner, do you? Just thought of that. 
....I THINK THATS FAIR, DON'T YOU. SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS LISTENING TO SOMEONE THAT THINKS THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
Yep! Another Kitchen Table Konsultant who is the expert on EVERYTHING but knows nothing! Probably saw it on a wedding show or in a wedding magz .... you know, the same people who tell brides that dummy cakes are cheaper?
ALso agree with above post on 'what's her point'? She wants to know what it will look like? It will look pretty darn close to the photo you brought me, chick! Why sketch it out when there is a photo in her hand?
Yeah..... another family "expert" who sent this poor girl down the wrong path.
You can say sure... for an extra fee, she might not have the need to see it before the wedding
Thank you all for your comments. Made me feel much better going into the meeting with the bride this morning.
The confidence I received by reading all your replies, made the meeting a very pleasant one. I was able to put the bride at ease and show her exactly what her cake would look like. I think because she had ordered her cake so far in advance that she kind of forgot everything.
Thanks again
cascades
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